Lauren Lawson-Zilai

Senior Director, Public Relations

Goodwill Industries International

Lauren Lawson-Zilai is the Senior Director, Public Relations for Goodwill Industries International, North America’s leader in workforce training and development, job placement and other support services for people looking for employment or career advancement. As spokesperson for Goodwill®, she has been quoted frequently in news media publications and networks, including the Associated Press, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Forbes, MarketWatch Radio, The New York Times, The NonProfit Times, PEOPLE, PR News and USA TODAY. Lawson-Zilai has spent the majority of her career using marketing and communications to drive social change and impact and elevate the brand awareness of mission-driven nonprofit organizations in both a for-profit and pro bono capacity. She invests time to share best practices and lessons learned as a speaker, moderator or panelist at various venues from corporations, professional associations, nonprofit organizations and universities, including Capitol Communicator, General Assembly, IABC, Microsoft, the National Digital Roundtable, PR Summit, PR News, PRSA, WWPR, University of Maryland, George Mason University and George Washington University, to name a few. Lawson-Zilai is the recipient of PR News’ PR Professional of the Year: Association/Nonprofit category, PR News’ Top Women in PR and the Public Relations Society of America–National Capital Chapter (PRSA NCC)’s Diamond and Platinum Awards, for outstanding service to the chapter year after year. She is also a Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) PR Woman of the Year honoree. Lawson-Zilai is President of PRSA NCC, Board of Advisors for the National Digital Roundtable, Advisory Board for WWPR, PRSSA Professional Adviser for Lycoming College, her alma mater, as well as a member of the President’s Leadership Council, Communications Committee member for the National Press Club, and a 100k Mentor. Additionally, Lawson-Zilai serves on Ragan Communications’ Crisis Leadership Network.

@laurenllawson